Playground unit



P. H. CONNELLY PLAYGROUND UNIT June 20, 1933.

Filed April 27, 1929 Inventor RH flannel? A ttorncyS Patented June 20, 1933 UNITED STATES PEARCE H. CONNELLY, OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA PLAYGROUND UNIT Application filed April 27,

My invention relates to play ground units and has for its object the provision of apparatus of the character designated which shall be simple and sturdy of construction, readily movable from place to place on a play ground and which may be readily knocked down for shipment.

A further object of my invention is to provide a play ground unit embodying a unitary portable foundation and a plurality of play devices detachably connected to the foundation unit.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a play ground unit together with a plurality of play units supported therefrom and sturdy means for connecting the play units to the foundation whereby the unit may be readily assembled for shipment.

Apparatus embodying features of my in- 20 vention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved play ground unit assembled;

5 Fig. 2 is a detail view in sectional elevation showing the means for joining together the tops of the swing support frame;

Fig. 3 is a detail view in elevation showing the means employed for hingedly connecting the different units to the base or foundation frame of the apparatus; and

Fig. 4 is an end view of Fig. 3.

Referrin to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, particularly to Fig. 1, my improved play ground unit embodies a foundation frame made up of members comprising standard pipe sections 10, 11, 12 and 13, the members 11 and 13 comprising the sides, and the members and 12 the ends of the foundation frame. The units 10 to 13 inclusive are joined at three corners of the foundation by standard elbows 14.' At the fourth corner the units 11 and 12 are joined together by means of a special coupling 15 shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

The coupling 15 comprises a pair of similar members 16 and 17 somewhat in the form of a split T which embrace the pipe 12 and which are joined together by means of a bolt 18 passing through the pipe 11 and both of 1929. Serial N0. 358,497.

the members. The particular manner in whlch the members comprising the coupling 15 are joined together render. it extremely useful as a hinge member as will appear 56 more particularly hereinafter.

Extending upwardly from the side 13 of the base frame are pipe sections 19 and 21 which are hingedly connected to the side 13 by means of clamps 15, already described, the members 16 and 17 of the clamp embracing the member 13. Similar pipe sections 22 and 23 extend upwardly from the side 11, the sections 19 and 22 being joined together at their tops and the sections 21 and 23 being joined together to form inverted V frames.

Extending across the tops of the V frames is a swing support 24 which is joined at its ends to the ends of the sections 19, 22 and 21 and 23 by means of a clamp 26 shown in' detail in Fig. 2. Suspended from the support 24 is a swing 25. I

The clamp 26 is somewhat in the form of an elbow which is split into three parts, namely, a lower clamp member 27, partially embracing the lower side of the upper ends of the members 19 and 22, an upper clamp member 28 partially embracing the upper sides of the members 19 and 22 and the lower side of the pipe 24, and a cap member 29 disposed above 'the pipe 24. A bolt 31 passes through the threemembers 27, 28 and 29 and through the pipe 24. A nut 32 on the end of the bolt 31 draws the clamp members tightly about the pipes and forms a very sturdy structure.

Adjacent the member 19 is apipe section 35 forming a ladder stile, the section 19 forming the other stile of the ladder. The lower end of the stile 32 is hingedly connected to the base frame member 13 by means of a coupling 15 such as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The upper end of the stile 32 is joined to the V frame member 19 by means of a short section of pipe 33 which is conm ciedto the V frame member 19 by means of a coupling 15 and to the stile 32 by means of a standard elbow.

A slide 36 has its upper end supported by the pipe section 33. The support for the lower end of the slide 36 is comprised of a cross section of pipe 37 joined by a coupling 15 to the V frame member 22 and at its outer end to an upright pipe section 38 joined to the base frame member 10 by a coupling 15. The upper end of the slide has rails 41 and 42 extending beyond a support 33 to provide handles for use in climbing onto the slide.

Near the top of the V frame members 21 and 23 is joined a cross member 43, the member 43 being joined to the members 21 and 23 by means of couplings 44 which are similar to the couplings 15 except that the clamping portions are at an angle to the'stem thereof corresponding to the inclination of the V frame members 21 and 23. Connected to the cross member 43 by means of a coupling 15, is a see-saw support 46 which is comprised of a standard pipe section. The see-saw support 46 extends at right angles to the member 43 and has its outer ends supported by means of a vertically extending pipe section 47 joined to the support 46 by means of an elbow 48 and to the base frame member 12 by means of a coupling 15. Suspended from the support 46 is a see-saw 49.

From the foregoing description the advantages of my play ground unit will be readily appreciated. Being comprised of standard pipe sections throughout, it may be readily assembled and disassembled, while the broad foundation frame provides adequate and sturdy support'for the play devices secured to and supported thereon. Being of relatively light construction, the unit may be readily moved from place to place on a play ground and does not require a heavy foundation such as is ordinarily used with such units. At the same time, the construction is such as to provide great strength an dura bility. In order to disassemble the unit for shipment, it is only necessary to disengage the couplings 15 and clamp members 26 to separate the various units, and to disassemble the pipe couplings comprising the foundation frame. The entire unit can then be packed in a very small space and shipped. By disengaging the upper clamp members 15, the clamp-members 26 and the clamp memhere 44, the unit may be collapsed and readily moved without disassembling the apparatus.

l/Vhile I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in theart that it is not so limited but is susceptible of various changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof and I desiretherefore that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are imposed by the .prior art, or as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. An amusement device comprising a rectangular metallic frame forming a base, a swing supporting frame connected to the from the ends thereof, and frames provided for relatively lower amusement devices connected to the swing frame and the sides of the base, thereby to laterally brace the swing frame to a base substantially wider than the swing frame.

2. In an amusement device, a swing comprising V-shaped side frames formed of tubular metal members having a top swing sup port and a detachable coupling to connect the side legs of each frame with the swing support, said coupling comprising a bottom member with divergent grooved faces adapt= ed to receive the adjacent side frame members, an intermediate member adapted to form complemental clamp members for its respective side frame members, and having a center seat for the swing support and a top clamp adapted to pass through the swing support and tie the intermediate and bottom clamp members together to interlock the side frame members to each other and to the ad- .jacent end of the swing support.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

PEARCE H. CONNELLY.

front and rear sides of said frame and spaced 

